KINGSFORD — The low bid for the Heights water project was nearly $1.4 million higher than the estimated cost, but Kingsford City Council expects to go forward with the project this summer.

The bid awarded to Payne and Dolan of Gladstone was for $8,396,315, according to City Manager Mike Stelmaszek.

There were three bids and all were within 2% of the median bid, Stelmaszek said. The project was originally estimated to cost $7,080,000 and the city received a $5,310,000 grant from the State Revolving Fund for it. Stelmaszek said the city will work with the treasury department and Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy to see if more funding can be found.

The project will replace 2 1/2-inch water lines with a 6-inch line on Wilson Avenue, Harrison Street, Cleveland Avenue, Saratoga Streets and parts of Bell Court and Rexford Avenue. There would be sidewalk restoration, full curb replacement, full-width pavement replacement and some hydrant replacement.

The project would replace about 6,000 feet of galvanized pipes and roughly 140 older water services. Some of the pipes are 100 years old. The project is expected to be finished in 2025.

In other business on April 17, the council:

≤ Learned the city has selected Andrew Mann, Trevor Povolo and Tobiahas Wheeler as its candidates to attend the Regional Police Academy at Northern Michigan University in Marquette. It is set to start May 7 and end in August. The three will be expected to join the Kingsford Public Safety Department after graduation.

≤ Will seek bids for the foundation for a new salt shed. The city has accepted a bid of $108,392 from AMB Construction for a 65-foot by 90-foot fabric shed to be built near the public works building.

≤ Will allow the public safety director to seek bids to paint the public safety department building. The money will be budgeted for the next fiscal year but the project would be completed in July before the city’s centennial.

≤ Agreed to lend $25,000 to the centennial committee to print the second edition book on the history of the city of Kingsford. Tony Edlebeck, who is helping oversee the project, told the council the books will contain information on about 600 businesses from Kingsford.